EUROPE-PH News

Partnership for Integrity & Jobs (Project I4J)...

“There is a need to review the ‘Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas’ that was approved last year. Needless to state, commuters as well as private vehicle owners suffer monstrous and extremely costly traffic everyday in Metro Manila,” Aquino said.

Umali, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Energy, casually announced on Wednesday that he had “disintegrated” plans to consider amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, or Epira law, because “the private sector doesn’t want to support it.”

The Philippines is one of 37 Asian countries cited by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as “either suffering from low levels of water security or have barely begun to engage in the essential task of improving water security.” In 2013 the ADB said local public utilities responsible for providing water and sanitation services to local communities “were found to lack capacity in all aspects of sustainability, including effective functioning, financing and demand responsiveness.”

The House Committee on Energy has abandoned its plan to amend Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), which was supposed to address various issues concerning the power industry.

“The FINL Liberalization Act is included in President Aquino’s priority legislative measures as of July 2015. It is intended to remove restrictions on adjustment companies, lending companies, financing companies and investment houses in the FINL under a single reform measure,” the JFC said.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines still believes there is room for smaller retail investments, and consequently supports the further opening of the retail sector through the revision of R.A. 8762, in line with our advocacy in making the Foreign Investment Negative List more positive.

"What is interesting for me to see is when I first arrived here in 2005, many buildings were not yet there, and 10 years later, there is a boom in high-rise buildings all over the place. So you can really see the growth." Gottein said pointing out to the view outside.

“The GDP growth is lower than expected and reflects government’s continuing delay in getting infrastructure projects implemented. Another issue is the low level of foreign direct investment due to the restrictive policies. If growth is to accelerate in the second half, these issues need to be addressed now,” said Henry Schumacher, vice president for external affairs at the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The traffic situation in Metro Manila is so bad that Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis N. Tolentino even characterized it as bloody.

The foreign business community has renewed its call for the establishment of a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), saying this will enhance the attractiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination.

Foreign Business associations in the Philippines have renewed their push at the House of Representatives for the passage of a law to create a Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).